The mother and brother of the Oscar winning American singer-actress Jennifer Hudson were found murdered on Friday afternoon at the family's South Side home, the "Dreamgirls" star’s publicist has confirmed. Police identify suspect in Jennifer Hudson's mom, brother's murder The publicist said that the singer's 57-year-old mother, Darnell Hudson Donnerson, and her 29-year-old brother, Jason S. Hudson, are dead after a fatal shooting at Donnerson's home in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago.
In a statement, Hudson's personal publicist, Lisa Kasteler said, "We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation concerning the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson," adding that "No further comment will be made and the family has asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time."
According to Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson, a family member found the bodies of Donnerson and his son around 3 p.m. Friday, adding that there was no sign of forced entry. Donnerson was found shot to death on the living room floor, while Jason’s body was found in a bedroom of the home.
Meanwhile, Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune have cited police sources as saying that Chicago police authorities have nabbed a suspect in the double-homicide of Hudson's mother and brother. Police are still searching for Donnerson's grandchild, who is missing from the scene.
According to a report from the Sun Times, William Balfour, was romantically involved with the Hudson’s sister Julia, is the suspect in the double-homicide, and was taken into custody.
ulia has identified Balfour, 27, as her husband on her MySpace page. Julia's 7-year-old son, Julian King, was declared missing soon after the fatal incidence. Balfour was in custody Friday night, but the boy was not with him. Authorities have issued an Amber Alert for the missing boy.
"Currently we're looking for a 1994 white suburban vehicle that's missing from the location as well as a seven-year-old African-American child," said deputy chief Patterson.
Records from the Illinois Department of Corrections show Balfour is on parole from the Illinois River Correctional Center on attempted murder, carjacking and stolen-property charges, for which he has spent nearly seven years in prison.
Jennifer Hudson, the 27-year-old former American Idol contestant, recently got engaged to her boyfriend, David Otunga, better known as Punk from the VH1 reality show “I Love New York 2.”
Born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois, Hudson is an Academy Award-winning American actress and singer, who first gained notice as one of the finalists on the third season of the FOX television series American Idol.
Her big screen debut in the 2006 film “Dreamgirls” made her a star and earned her the year's Academy Award as best actress. For Dreamgirls, an adaptation of the early '80s Tony award-winning Broadway hit” she won numerous other awards including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a SAG Award and two BET Awards.
In September 2007, Hudson started work on the Sex and the City film, as Carrie Bradshaw's assistant. She currently stars in The Secret Life of Bees.
